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5
June 2015
The second Great Trek
– implications for agriculture
i
n 1838 a move from the Cape to the unknown interior started
– almost blindly, as a result of circumstances so bad that the
unknown was considered a better option.
In my Standard 2 history book it was referred to as the
Great Trek. Today we read about it in the National Develop-
ment Plan (NDP): The urbanisation of the people. The circumstanc-
es in rural areas have become so dire that people blindly move to
cities in search of a better future.
According to the NDP, 60% of all South Africans currently reside
in cities and it is expected that the number could grow to 70%
by 2030. The implications of this on the infrastructure of cities
are massive, but for commercial agriculture it is a wonderful oppor-
tunity, actually.
The more people urbanise, the more people must buy food and can-
not produce it for themselves. The future of subsistence farming
seems doubtful against this tempo of urbanisation. If I look around
me it also seems as if the speed of urbanisation is outstripping
the speed of land reform.
The one factor we will, however, have to monitor constantly is that
the improvement in the productivity of grain production remains
greater than the speed of urbanisation in order to maintain food
security. This, in itself, is no mean feat.
In South Africa we have witnessed a large decline in the number
of people in the poorest categories of our population and an al-
most equal increase in the middle class – mostly city dwellers. The
group of people who have migrated from the poorer categories,
definitely do not consume porridge and bread in the same quantities
than before.
They eat chicken, eggs, dairy and meat (and drink beer!). All of
these are products requiring the production of larger quantities
of grain – most likely not by subsistence farmers, but rather by
commercial producers. The “Great Trek” of urbanisation and class
migration therefore offer many opportunities to commercial agri-
cultural producers.
What is, however, a matter of concern is that the gap between
rich and poor all over the world continues to widen. This leads to
more and more conflict and violence. People who at the time in 1838
migrated to an unknown future are still doing it today. There have
recently been even more people who endeavoured to cross the
Mediterranean Sea or an ocean elsewhere in the world, recklessly,
in search of a new future. They are fleeing poverty, violence and a
lack of security.
The xenophobic violence in South Africa was a huge embarrass-
ment for our country. However, it remains a symptom of problems
in our society related to urbanisation, poverty, poor infrastructure
and poor services.
I was listening to a leadership video the other day wherein the
commentator highlighted three matters that destroy nations: The
gap between rich and poor which is widening; racial hatred; as
well as violence/war. It was almost as if he was talking about South
Africa. These problems are devastating for our country.
The question is: What can agriculture do about it?
The solutions to this are huge challenges, but while we are search-
ing for solutions, people still have to eat. This is our salvation. One
can quite easily shrug one’s shoulders declaring: “It is not my re-
sponsibility,” but ostrich politics have never provided permanent
solutions resulting in a good future.
DS KOOS KIRSTEN
WOORD
Uit die
“h
ierdie beelde moet weg! Hulle mag nie in die
openbaar staan nie, want hulle herinner ons aan
die verlede!” So begin ‘n nuwe soort beeldestorm,
waar beelde geskend word. Sommige mense
probeer die beelde (monumente) afbreek, terwyl
ander dit wil beskerm. Sommige voel sterk oor beelde, terwyl
ander nie veel erg daaraan het nie. Oor die meriete van elkeen se
standpunt, kan baie gesê word.
Wat vir ons as Christene egter van nog groter belang is, is die
beeld van God. Die mens is na die beeld van God geskep. Hier-
die beeld het egter met die sondeval gebreek. Die mens het nie
opgehou om die beeld van God te wees nie, die beeld is nou net
stukkend. God kan nou nie meer in die natuurlike mens gesien
word nie.
God het sy Seun gestuur om vir die sonde van die mens te betaal
en die mens só van die vloek van die sonde te verlos. Hy het ook
die Heilige Gees gegee om die mens weer nuut te maak, om die
beeld van God in die mens te herstel. In Rom 8:3 en vers 29 lees
ons dat God sy Seun in die
gelykheid
van die mens gestuur het om
die
gelykenis
van God in die mens te herstel. Christus het mens
geword sodat ons weer beeld van God kan word.
Niemand kan nou die beeld van God in jou lewe beskadig nie, behal-
we jyself. Niemand kan van ‘n Christen iets anders as ‘n Christen
maak nie. Net jy kan só leef dat God in jou lewe sigbaar of onsigbaar
is. Net jy kan hierdie beeld mooi laat vertoon of dit beskadig.
Soos gewone beelde mense aan sekere dinge herinner, so moet die
beeld in jou mense aan God herinner. Dit maak nie saak waar jy is en
waarmee jy besig is nie, God moet in jou lewe sigbaar wees. Jy moet
God aan die wêreld vertoon.
Baie geluk aan
Albert Mohlominyana van
Viljoenskroon wat vir die
Maart-uitgawe van
SA Graan/Grain
die gratis
Bybel gewen het.